We have one more afternoon/evening planned with the Jernigan’s next week before they officially move to Michigan on August 1st. I have really been trying not to think about saying goodbye, after all, Holland is only 2 1/2 hours away and totally driveable. In fact, we were just talking this morning about planning a trip there in early September to visit them and stay a couple nights. It also looks like they may try to make it back to the city for Charlie’s birthday.

I know that we will most likely be moving soon enough ourselves, but this season really marks the beginning of close friends moving out of the city and into the next phase of life. I always knew we wouldn’t stay here forever, and next summer will mark my tenth year since I arrived in Chicago…but I know that saying goodbye will be so incredibly bittersweet and I am prepared for many, many tears. Although I know it is the right thing for our family, I will always cherish the friends we have made here and love the fact that Charlie spent her first 2+ years living and “doing life” in the big city.

So I will try not to cry next week when I hug my sweet friend Jen and her boys for the last time in the apartment they currently live in. Having them around the corner from us has filled my heart with immense joy and I will miss the impromptu playdates and time spent huddled together in the living room watching the snow fall with our peppermint coffee. My saving grace is that Daddy will be done with school on the 31st and we will have him back on Saturday mornings for good. We will love having Daddy home, don’t get me wrong, but even his presence can’t replace our “Pajama Saturdays”.